Page 127 of The Demon's Pet

I wasn’t going back to the haven. I wasn’t up for another stoning. But I just knew I couldn’t stay with Sam anymore.

Griffin caught up to me, panting, and pulled me up into a hug, but I pushed away from him angrily.

“You didn’t even try to stop him.”

“Me? Stop a celestial executioner?” Griffin let out a frustrated laugh. “Cleo, be reasonable. Look, Sam hasn’t hurt you, has he? Let’s trust him that it had to be this way. It sucks, but—”

“How could you just trust him?” I asked, tears biting my eyes. “After seeing him do that?”

“That thing killed children,” Griffin said. “I’m not sure why you’re so eager to believe it.”

“I could feel it’s fear. I remember… feeling that afraid.” I was shaking. “I think, in my heart, even though Sam threatened me with death, I hoped he would still have been unable to kill me. That he wouldn’t want to hurt innocent creatures just because it’s his job.” I lifted a shoulder, the pain in my heart a physical, heavy ache. “I guess I was wrong.”

“Cleo—” Griffin said.

I knew I was taking this hard. I hadn’t ever seen anyone die before, other than Zane and the minotaurs, who definitely deserved it. I liked fighting, but apparently, I hated killing, even when someone else was doing it.

I suppose I understood what Sam was in concept, but not in reality. And now that I understood, I wanted to run.

“Don’t,” Griffin said, seeming to read my intentions. “Don’t even try it. He’ll find you. And, Cleo, you’re better off with him. I still believe that—”

“I don’t care what you believe, Griffin,” I said, instantly regretting how nasty it sounded. I met his hurt gaze and realized I was being a jerk. It had clearly affected him as well, but there was nothing to be done.

Os had been willing to stand there too.

I gave Griffin a quick hug. “I’m sorry. This isn’t your fault. But you don’t understand. You’re with Os. He isn’t heartless.”

Griffin gave me a sad but understanding look as I pushed back from him. Even he couldn’t say Sam had a heart.

“I have one other option,” I said. “Perhaps Sam was just supposed to get me out of the haven. Now I have to do the rest myself.”

“He will find you,” Griffin says. “He won’t let you go. I don’t think he means to harm you, but there’s no way—”

“Tell him I’m with Zadis now. Permanently.”

Griffin’s blue eyes went wide. “Will you be?”

“No,” I said. “But how else will Sam give up?”

Griffin frowned. “I don’t think he’s going to give up no matter what we tell him.”

“Fuck,” I muttered. “Well, I’m going to talk to Zadis anyway.”

“But isn’t he…? He wanted that creature killed,” Griffin said. “Cleo, I don’t trust him.”

“He’s my only option,” I said. “And I don’t believe he’d murder anyone. True, he hates creatures like that void walker, but he only did all of this because he was trying to protect his people.” My mind was racing, and even I couldn’t tell if this was a good idea. But I didn’t have a better one.

No one else would stand up to Sam to keep me, and Zadis had already agreed to.

“I know you’re upset, but I don’t think you’re thinking straight,” Griffin said. “I know that was traumatic, but I believe you’re safe with Sam. He’s a celestial, and—”

“A celestial who puts swords through things that don’t deserve it!” I yelled, my hands clenching into biting fists.

Besides, I knew Sam was far more than a celestial.

I’d discovered one of his secrets, but he probably had mountains more.

Who knew what he was planning?

---